Decorative candle display and method of manufacturing same

ABSTRACT

A decorative candle display including a container, preferably transparent, with an interior wall surface having disposed thereon gelatinous components. The decorative candle display formed by: positioning a wick within the container cavity defined by a bottom interior surface of the container and the interior wall surface of the container; forming the gelatinous structures; positioning the gelatinous structures against the interior wall surface; compressing the gelatinous structures by pressing the gelatinous structures against the interior wall surface; pouring a molten mixture into the cavity, the molten mixture filling in the portion of the cavity not filled by the gelatinous structures; and cooling the molten mixture.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] (Not Applicable)

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

[0002] (Not Applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention generally relates to decorative candles,and more particularly to a decorative candle display having gelatinousstructures compressed against the inner surface of a container and a waxfiller filling in the remainder of the cavity of the container.

[0004] Decorative candles can be formed in different styles, shapes, andcolors. Typically, there are three types of candles: tapered, molded,and container.

[0005] A container candle is formed by pouring molten wax into acontainer having a wick disposed therein. The wick is extensible throughthe wax such that as the wick is burned, the wax around the wick willmelt, thereby providing fuel for the wick to burn.

[0006] Fragrances and/or pigments can be added to the wax to give thecandle a unique appearance and scent. Typically, the fragrance and/orpigment is mixed with the wax when in a molten state. The wax containingthe fragrance and/or pigment is then formed into the preferred type ofcandle. The pigment will give the candle the desired coloring, while thefragrance gives the candle a desired scent. The scent produced by thefragrance may become more pronounced as the candle is being burned.

[0007] In addition to making candles out of wax, mineral oil has beenused to make candles, i.e., gel candles. The mineral oil is gelatinousand a solid at ambient temperature. Typically, a gel candle is formed bypouring molten mineral oil into a container having a wick. The mineraloil is allowed to cool to its gelatinous state thereby forming a candlewithin the container. Gel candles burn longer than candles made fromparaffin wax because of the high oil content of the gel. Furthermore,gel candles may additionally be scented and/or colored to add morevariety to the candles. Additionally, gel components may be fabricatedfrom the mineral oil gel, where the gel components are individual piecesof mineral oil gel fabricated into prescribed shapes. The individual gelcomponents may then be placed on the top of a wax candle to provide amore decorative appearance.

[0008] Gel components may also be placed on the sides of a wax candle ina transparent container as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,512 entitledDECORATIVE CANDLE DISPLAY AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference and U.S. Pat. No.6,210,153, entitled DECORATIVE CANDLE DISPLAY AND METHOD OF FORMATION,the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0009] As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,153, one method of creating adecorative candle having gelatinous components on the side of thecontainer is to line the interior surface of the transparent containerwith melted gelatinous material and allowing the gelatinous material tocool and solidify as a gelatinous liner. A generally opaque structure isthen placed onto the liner and filler material is then added into thecontainer around a previously placed wick.

[0010] An alternative method of manufacturing a candle having gelatinousstructures around the sides of the candle is described in U.S. Pat. No.6,241,512. That patent discloses a method for placing a core candle,such as a votive in a container such that a chamber is created betweenthe interior wall of the container and the core candle. Gelatinouscomponents are placed within the chamber.

[0011] The above methods are difficult to implement using a smallcontainer. Thus, a need exists for a method of creating a decorativecandle formed in a container (including a small container) wherein thedecorative candle includes gelatinous components along the interior wallof the container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is a decorative candle display and a methodfor its manufacture. The candle display comprises: a container having acavity formed by an interior bottom surface and an interior wallsurface; at least one transparent combustible gelatinous structurepressed against the interior wall surface, the at least one gelatinousstructure having a first melting point; a mixture having a secondmelting point lower than the first melting point, the mixture filling ina portion of the cavity not occupied by the at least one gelatinousstructure, the mixture forming a top surface; and a wick disposed withinthe cavity and extending through the top surface.

[0013] Preferably, the container is a transparent container.

[0014] The gelatinous structures may be formed of a mineral oil gel. Thegelatinous structures may have a pigment and/or a fragrance.

[0015] The mixture may be formed of a wax material. The wax material maybe a paraffin wax. The material may have a pigment and/or a fragrance.

[0016] The candle display is manufactured using a method comprising:providing a container having an interior bottom surface and an interiorside surface, the interior bottom surface and the interior side surfacedefining a cavity; positioning a wick within the cavity; forming atleast one gelatinous structure having a first melting point; positioningthe at least one gelatinous structure against the interior wall surface;compressing the at least one gelatinous structure by pressing the atleast one gelatinous structure against the interior wall surface;pouring a molten mixture into the cavity, the molten mixture having asecond melting point lower than the first melting point, the moltenmixture filling in the portion of the cavity not filled by the at leastone gelatinous structure; and cooling the molten mixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These as well as other features of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative candle display; and

[0019] FIGS. 2-5 are perspective views of fabrication steps of thedecorative candle display of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are forpurposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present inventiononly, and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of a decorative candle display 10 formed in accordance with thepresent invention. The candle display 12 includes a container 12, whichis preferably transparent and made of glass or other appropriatematerial.

[0021] The candle display 10 includes gelatinous structures 22 pressedagainst the interior wall surface 15 of the container such that thestructures 22 are visible from the exterior of the container 12. As herenon-limitedly exemplified, the gelatinous structures 22 are cut to begenerally cubed shaped and are manufactured from a mineral oil gel whichis solid, yet also flexible, and sufficiently tacky to adhere to theinterior wall surface. Such gel products are available as “Candle Gel”and “Versa Gel,” both manufactured by Penrico Company, Woodland, Tex.These products can be poured into molds to form desired structures,formed into sheets which can be cut to desired structuralconfigurations, or otherwise conventionally treated to yield shaped endproducts that function as gelatinous structures 22. Fragrance and/orpigment may be added to the gelatinous material, preferably, when it isin a liquid state.

[0022] The decorative candle display 10 includes a wick 16. Preferably,the wick 16 is attached to a holder or “puck” 18 as shown in FIG. 2. Thepuck is placed on the bottom surface of the container 14. The exemplarycontainer 12 shown in the illustrations is approximately 1.5-3.0 inchesin diameter and preferably fabricated from glass. However, it will beappreciated that the present invention may include configurations havingcontainers 12 of various shapes and sizes.

[0023] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the gelatinous structures 22 are placedin the container 12. The gelatinous structures 22 are preferablycompressed by pressing the gelatinous structures against the interiorwall of the container 15 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0024] Next, melted wax 24 (e.g., paraffin) which has a lower meltingpoint than the gelatinous structures 22 is poured into the container 12,as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the melted wax 24 is at a temperature of150° F. or lower. The melted wax 24 may include a pigment and/or afragrance. The wax 24 fills in the gaps between the gelatinousstructures 22 in order to form the decorative candle display 10 shown inFIG. 1. The candle is then allowed to cool and solidify.

[0025] While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of theinvention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understoodthat the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied andemployed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed toinclude such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of manufacturing a decorative candledisplay comprising the steps of: a) providing a non-opaque containerhaving an interior bottom surface and an interior side surface, theinterior bottom surface and the interior side surface defining a cavity;b) positioning a wick within the cavity; c) forming at least onegelatinous structure having a first melting point; d) positioning the atleast one gelatinous structure against the interior wall surface; e)compressing the at least one gelatinous structure by pressing the atleast one gelatinous structure against the interior wall surface; f)pouring a molten mixture into the cavity, the molten mixture having asecond melting point lower than the first melting point, the moltenmixture filling in the portion of the cavity not filled by the at leastone gelatinous structure; and g) cooling the molten mixture.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises: (i) heating a transparentcombustible gelatinous material to its melting temperature; (ii) mixingand uniformly disbursing a pigment within the gelatinous material; (iii)forming the gelatinous material to a desired shape; and (iv) allowingthe gelatinous material to solidify.
 3. The method of claim 2 whereinstep (c) (ii) further comprises disbursing a fragrance within thegelatinous material.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c)comprises: (i) heating a transparent combustible gelatinous material toits melting temperature; (ii) disbursing a fragrance within thegelatinous material; (iii) forming the gelatinous material to a desiredshape; and (iv) allowing the gelatinous material to solidify.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the gelatinous material is a mineral oil gel.6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprises disbursing apigment within the molten mixture before pouring the molten mixture intothe cavity.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (f) further comprisesdisbursing a fragrance within the molten mixture before pouring themolten mixture into the cavity.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein step(f) further comprises disbursing a pigment within the molten mixturebefore pouring the molten mixture into the cavity.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the molten mixture is a wax material.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the molten mixture is a paraffin wax.
 11. A decorativecandle display comprising: a) a container having a cavity formed by aninterior bottom surface and an interior wall surface; b) a plurality ofcombustible gelatinous components compressed within the container, someof which are pressed against the interior wall surface, with theplurality of gelatinous components having a first melting point; c) amixture having a second melting point lower than the first meltingpoint, the mixture filling in a portion of the cavity not occupied bythe plurality of gelatinous components, the mixture forming a topsurface; and d) a wick disposed within the cavity and extending throughthe top surface.
 12. The decorative candle display of claim 11 whereinsaid plurality of gelatinous components is formed of a mineral oil gel.13. The decorative candle display of claim 11 wherein the mixture isformed of a wax material.
 14. The decorative candle display of claim 13,wherein the mixture is formed of a paraffin wax.
 15. The decorativecandle display of claim 11, wherein said plurality of gelatinouscomponents additionally comprises a pigment.
 16. The decorative candledisplay of claim 11, wherein said plurality of gelatinous componentsadditionally comprises a fragrance.
 17. The decorative candle display ofclaim 16, wherein said plurality of gelatinous components additionallycomprises a pigment.
 18. The decorative candle display of claim 11,wherein the mixture additionally comprises a pigment.
 19. The decorativecandle display of claim 11, wherein the mixture additionally comprises afragrance.
 20. The decorative candle display of claim 19, wherein themixture additionally comprises a pigment.
 21. The decorative candledisplay of claim 11, wherein the container is transparent.